2009 In Review - Second Annual Running Of The Balls

Continuing from the end of 2009, I'll be posting some articles that were written over the past 12 months about the events and accomplishments of the EYC last year. I hope to post them in chronological order just to show all the awesome things youth have done down here at the centre.

The following was originally printed in the Essex Voice and Essex Free Press back in June:

EYC To Have A Ball
By Marc Rocheleau

While Funfest has something for everyone, one organization hopes to have a ball at the event.

On July 11, Essex Youth Centre (EYC) will host its second annual Running Of The Balls at the festival. Taking place after the parade, where EYC will have a float containing 1,000 beach balls, organizers expect this year's event to be more successful than the last.

"We sold 978 balls" said Executive-Director, Sandy Larivee."We're anticipating this year, because people know what's happening, that they will come forth and buy their beach balls early so as to not miss out on the fun."

Running Of The Balls involves blowing up all beach balls sold before the event. After the Funfest parade, they'll be dumped in one location at the festival grounds and Essex celebrraties will kick them towards a target. Last year, Mayor Taut McDermott joined the Funfest Prince and Princess contestants in the kicking area and said afterwards, " I had a ball!"

The winning ball that enters the finish line first is worth $500 and the next five earn a $100 prize. The public is also encouraged to come cheer participants on.

"Last year we did the event on Sunday evening before the fireworks," said Larivee. "This year we're going to do it after the parade. Hopefully we'll have the crowd follow us in so they can see the balls being kicked on the grounds."

Every ball is numbered to a corresponding ticket and people can purchase them for $5 each in the few weeks before Funfest. Members from the centre will be out at CIBC in Essex and may be in grocery stores as well.

Having done the event before, EYC is hoping it will run smoothly again this year.

"We learned a lot of fun lessons in our first year of this event," said Larivee. "Like how to get 1,000 beach balls out of the youth centre on Saturday morning, ontime for the parade, which was a challenge. Other than that, we were lucky that, in the rain, our product didn't get destroyed; we had more fun with it."

Running Of The Balls is sponsored by Insight Entreprises and all proceeds will go to EYC's general operating costs – helping to make the centre more self-sustainable.